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his two-day visit to Israel in October, New York’s Mayor
Bill de Blasio met
face to face with the mayors of Israel’s two largest cities. He
looked them both in the eye and bragged, “My Jewish population
is bigger than yours.” In fact, he noted, New York has the
biggest Jewish community in the world.

At the 40th anniversary dinner of the Jewish
Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC) in April at the
Pierre Hotel, the mayor credited the organization’s executive
vice president/CEO Michael Miller with facilitating his trip to Israel.

“Michael Miller has the ability to make me think solidarity with
Israel,” de Blasio said. “The work of JCRC is the best way to
understand Israel. It gives us the desire to stand strong with
Israel. Over four decades JCRC has pursued the mission of
tikkun olam
[repair the world] brilliantly.”

The mayor decried the rise of antisemitism around the world. “We
don’t tolerate any such threat,” he said. “When we see attacks
on a Jewish community anywhere in the world, the NYPD goes on
alert immediately to protect the Jewish community here. We are
best prepared to counter any threat.”

De Blasio acknowledged the presence of Israeli Consul General
Ido Aharoni, who is
leaving his post after five years at the end of July. “I don’t
think Israel has a more effective, taller representative than
Ido Aharoni,” de Blasio said.

Aharoni, who said he is one inch shorter than the mayor,
replied, “For New Yorkers Israel is a local story. When
something happens in Israel, New Yorkers react like it happened
here.”

Miller presented awards to real estate developers
Joshua L. Muss and
Jason A. Muss; Edward Skyler, executive
vice president for global public affairs at Citi; and Ronald G. Weiner,
head of the Perelson Weiner public accounting firm, who in June
will complete three years as president of JCRC.